This Ethiopian sulfur spring is one of the hottest and most inhospitable places on Earth — and the photos are mesmerizing

Carl CourtEthiopia is home to some of the world's most beautiful scenery, including some striking sulfur — yes, sulfur — springs.

Earlier this month, award-winning photographer Carl Court visited one of these springs, located at the base of the Dallol Volcano.

The stunning site is roughly 370 miles (600 kilometers) north of the capital Addis Ababa, but many of the images don't look like anywhere else on Earth.

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Dallol is the Earth's lowest land volcano at 48 metres below sea level. Its last recorded eruption was back in 1926. The salt flats stretch for miles in all directions and in the far distance you can see high mountains, some of which are extinct volcanoes.

The craters are full of striking neon yellow, orange, and green colors. And all of it is thanks to the boiling-hot magma below the surface, which pushes up salt, sulphur, potash, and other minerals.

As brine evaporates from the surface, salt formations are formed in the craters, which are white, yellow, brown, orange, and green. Halophile algae — which can live in very salty conditions — also contribute to the colorful scene.

"As a photographer, one of my primary interests is how the life, culture and environment can be portrayed and shown in still images," said Court. "In Danakil, it wasn't hard too do this as everything is very dramatic and completely out of the ordinary."